Life on the Farm
Anyone who spends much time around chickens can tell by the sounds they make if they are frightened, contented, cautious, and a whole range of other emotions. But no one has definitively resolved the question: Exactly how many words do...
It’s been several years since massive flocks of grackles have visited our farm, as they once regularly did. Although grackles remain among North Americas most abundant birds, scientists have identified the common grackle among 33 bird species in steep decline....
Lebkuchen are spicy honey cookies traditionally served at Christmas time in Germany, and are an essential part of Christmas in our household. These cookies are not only delicious, but also pretty enough to give as gifts. Large and round, they...
Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugar and water, which means it contains more sugar than the water can naturally dissolve. Honey crystallizes when the water releases excess sugar. If you’ve ever had the fun of making rock candy, you...
Nubian kids are sometimes born with folded ears. If you don’t correct a goat kid’s folded ears right away, the ears will remain permanently folded. Why goat kids are born with folded ears is anyone’s guess. One conjecture is that...
A dishwasher safe non-stick griddle plate will accumulate a film of burnt-on food residue, no matter how careful you are. And the gunk seems to sneak up — the griddle looks clean, until one day it suddenly isn’t. That’s the...
The first flock of guinea fowl we had on our Tennessee farm consisted of mostly pearl guineas, with a few white guineas in the lot. Unfortunately, white poultry of any kind are usually the first to succumb to predation, and...
When we built our chicken coop into a corner of our barn, we considered digging out the dirt floor and pouring a concrete slab. Concrete is the most expensive floor option for a coop. But concrete is the best floor...
A motion activated trail camera is awesome for capturing photos of elusive wildlife roaming our Tennessee farm that we might otherwise not see in person. For example, soon after we moved here we found a huge paw print in the...
“You need a Gilhoolie,” stated my dentist, after I told her that I involuntarily clench my teeth during activities requiring concentrated effort — such as trying to remove a stubborn jar lid. “What’s a Gilhoolie?” I asked, worried I was...
